Coloradans Show Strong Support for Bureau of Land Management's Proposed Public Lands Rule

Policy will strengthen conservation and restoration of lands, watersheds, wildlife in face of climate change

DENVER (May 25, 2023) – Coloradans across the state commended the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed public lands rule that will prioritize conservation in land management decisions. The agency is holding its first in-person meeting in Denver today to answer questions from the public about the proposal. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plays a critical role in Colorado, managing over 8.3 million acres of wildlands across the state, areas vitally important to conservation of water, wildlife, and the growing demand for access to the outdoors. 

Known as the “Public Lands Rule,” the proposal highlights the need for the agency to work with Tribal and local communities to focus on the conservation of land, water, and wildlife to ensure future access to federal public lands while combating the growing impacts of climate change. A broad coalition of sportsmen and women, conservationists and outdoor recreationists have applauded the agency for recognizing the urgent conservation needs facing our lands and waters.

"As a sportsperson who loves Colorado’s great outdoors, I stand in strong support of the BLM Public Lands Rule. Putting conservation on equal footing with oil and gas development will help boost our local economies, preserve wildlife habitat, and safeguard clean water. Today, Coloradans are coming together to let the BLM know that we want to preserve our way of life and ensure that future generations will always have access to our shared public lands."

Brien Webster, public lands campaign manager at Conservation Colorado

“While our nation’s public lands belong to everyone, industry wants to monopolize and control management, ultimately locking the public out of meaningful dialogue during planning. The proposed rule would put conservation on par with other uses and allow local input during the planning process. We thank the Biden administration for recognizing that our public lands are one of the nation's most valuable resources.”

Danielle Murray, Senior Director at The Conservation Lands Foundation, based in Durango, CO 

“Many of the remaining unprotected wildlands that define the West Slope are managed by the BLM,Coloradans are showing up as we always have to  work tirelessly to protect places like the Dolores River Canyon Country, Greater Dinosaur, Vermillion Basin and the Upper Colorado River corridor but haven’t always had a national partner to help make these protections happen. These public meetings are a way for residents to  work with the BLM to see these new policies and practices used to help protect the wildlands that support our communities, wildlife, and rivers to be resilient in the face of increasing recreational popularity and climate change for generations to come.”

Scott Braden, Director of the Colorado Wildlands Project

“Drought, wildfires, invasive species, and over-use have all contributed to the degradation of wildlife habitat. It’s time that conservation is put on equal footing as the other multiple uses on the lands and waters managed by the Bureau of Land Management so that habitats can be restored. The proposed conservation rule will provide a way for the agency to ensure public lands thrive for generations to come.”

Suzanne O’Neill, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation.

“The BLM’s new Public Lands Rule has great promise to finally put conservation on equal ground with extractive uses on our shared public lands. The public meeting today demonstrates that the BLM is working with Colorado communities to protect the cultural and outdoor values we love in Colorado while addressing the challenges our state is facing from population growth and climate impacts.”

 Jim Ramey, Colorado State Director for The Wilderness Society. 

“The proposed conservation rule is long overdue and will give the Bureau of Land Management more tools to restore the health of wildlife habitat and watersheds on public lands. Contrary to fear tactics used by some, this rule will not end grazing or energy development on public lands. Instead, it will use science-based decision making to ensure that our lands and waters remain vibrant for all users – which has always been the mission of the agency. I commend BLM’s commitment to authentically embrace and fulfill its multi-use land management mandate to ensure some of our nation’s most important land and water resources are healthy, productive, and accessible for the people and wildlife that love, use and depend on them. We are grateful the agency is holding public meetings like this one to ensure the public is fully informed of how this rule can benefit all who spend time on and value our public lands. ”

Alicia Marrs, Director of Western Water at the National Wildlife Federation

“The Bureau of Land Management has always been tasked with safeguarding the health of 245 million acres of public land for the ‘use and enjoyment of present and future generations.’ Unfortunately, too often the agency focused more on extracting from those lands instead of restoring them. The proposed public lands rule will bring proper balance to land management and is great news for all who rely on public lands – from rural communities to hunters and anglers, and other outdoor recreationists.”

Breanna González, Colorado field coordinator, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO)

“When used wisely, the Bureau of Land Management conservation mechanisms will support our local economies, tourism, and outdoor recreation as well as provide certainty for our rural and gateway communities so we can make long-term investments. The public meeting in Colorado will help the BLM ensure that the rule will modernize management policies to allow for increased recreational opportunities and access to nature.”

Chaffee County Commissioner Keith Baker 

“Last year we had over 120 local elected officials from western states call on the Biden administration to protect more Bureau of Land Management lands as part of the administration’s America the Beautiful initiative. And now, just this week, over 80 Colorado local elected officials are responding and looking forward to the BLM using this Public Lands Rule process to conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands, wildlife and waters in tandem with locally-led efforts to advance conservation across the west.”

Anna Peterson, Executive Director of The Mountain Pact

“Next 100 Colorado supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking process, which includes a public meeting in Denver. This is a critical step the agency must take to prioritize balanced management practices in a just and inclusive way. For too long, the BLM has focused on extractive industries that negatively impact communities of color and disadvantaged communities. It is time that antiquated BLM land management policies are modernized to develop an inclusive conservation approach that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of communities and considers the values of communities who have been historically excluded. We hope this rulemaking will provide communities with the necessary tools to safeguard sensitive cultural resources, provide improved access to recreational opportunities, connect people to healthier landscapes, and protect communities of color.”

Alma 'Rosie' Sanchez Co-chair, Next 100 Colorado. 

"A strong rule can benefit wildlife in Colorado, by prioritizing protection of areas of public lands that wildlife call home. For example, the rule could help protect the most important habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse, a bird that is at risk of extinction and found only in Colorado and Utah. Gunnison sage-grouse are a favorite among birders who love to watch spring courtship rituals where males dance their hearts out to impress females.  Elk, deer, songbirds, and many other wildlife species depend on the same habitat. This rule could help protect this crucial wildlife habitat by designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern."

Megan Mueller, Conservation Biologist with Rocky Mountain Wild

"As an outdoor business owner in Colorado, protected public lands play a critical role in my business and way of life. Protecting more of these BLM lands can help support local economies, local tourism industries and even local manufacturing like our Grand Junction-based outdoor brand while preserving our outstanding opportunities for recreation, including camping, hiking, paddling, hunting and fishing. Today’s public meeting is a great opportunity to encourage the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management to do all that they can to better conserve and protect our nation’s important public lands and waters. By doing so, they will provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, equitable access to nature, and safeguard the climate which will ensure that these important public lands continue to offer the unique recreational opportunities that bring millions of Americans to the great outdoors.”

Kevin Timm, Co-Founder and Co-owner Seek Outside, a Grand Junction-based manufacturer of high performance lightweight tents, backpacks and wood stoves

“The BLM’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. EcoFlight uses the aerial perspective to educate stakeholders about conservation challenges across the Western U.S., and from that bird’s eye-view over the years, we have witnessed too many BLM lands managed primarily for singular use only, such as fossil fuel extraction, and not available to the American public for recreation or sport or solitude. The BLM’s Public Lands Rule is an important first step for agencies to make balanced decisions that consider the needs of both current and future generations and give conservation equal footing with other land-uses. The proposed rule is supported by diverse Coloradans and elected officials, and will benefit our wildlands, wildlife habitat, and provide an important means for carbon sequestration in this changing climate.

Jane Pargiter, Executive Director of EcoFlight

“Our national parks are cultural and natural treasures that tell the story of America for present and future generations. Fully protecting parks is a vast responsibility that requires us to look beyond borders and to also protect landscapes surrounding parks. By ensuring BLM lands are conserved and managed in a way that comprehensively protects large landscapes, the proposed rule goes a long way toward achieving this critical vision.”

Tracy Coppola, Colorado Senior Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association.

Thumbnail photo credit: Aaron Kindle, National Wildlife Federation